The European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), Regulation (EU) 2025/40, entered into force on 11 February 2025 and applies generally from 12 August 2026. It replaces the previous Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive and introduces a more harmonised framework for packaging placed on the EU market.
For Malaysian manufacturers, exporters and supply-chain decision-makers, PPWR is therefore not only a European packaging issue.
If products are being placed on the EU market, the packaging used to protect, handle and transport those products may form part of the compliance requirements.
This makes packaging design, recyclability, material use and logistics efficiency increasingly important considerations when preparing products for European markets.
– What Is the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation?
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, commonly known as PPWR, establishes EU-wide rules covering packaging and packaging waste.
According to the European Commission, PPWR covers all packaging and packaging waste regardless of material or origin. It introduces requirements concerning the manufacturing and composition of packaging, as well as its reusable or recoverable characteristics.
Its broader objectives include:
– Preventing unnecessary packaging
– Reducing packaging waste
– Improving recyclability
– Encouraging reuse and recycling
– Improving material efficiency
– Harmonising packaging requirements across EU Member States
– Supporting the transition towards a circular economy
The regulation is intended to change the way packaging is designed, used, collected and recycled throughout its lifecycle.
– Why Should Malaysian Exporters Pay Attention to PPWR?
PPWR is an EU regulation, but its impact does not stop at Europe’s borders.
Malaysian businesses supplying packaged products into the EU should understand the packaging requirements affecting those goods.
Eltete TPM explains that businesses placing packaged products on the EU market must ensure relevant packaging requirements are met. Importers bringing products from outside the EU also have responsibilities concerning the packaging associated with those products.
This means European customers may increasingly ask Malaysian suppliers questions such as:
– What material is the transport packaging made from?
– Can the packaging be recycled?
– Is there unnecessary packaging around the product?
– Can packaging weight or volume be reduced?
– How easily can packaging materials be separated?
– What information is available about the packaging material?
– Could a more material-efficient packaging system be used?
Packaging may therefore become an increasingly important part of export planning rather than simply something added after manufacturing is completed.
Key PPWR Areas Relevant to Transport Packaging
PPWR is extensive and different requirements apply at different stages and to different packaging formats.
However, several areas are particularly relevant when businesses evaluate industrial and transport packaging.
1. Recyclability
One of the central directions of PPWR is improving the recyclability of packaging placed on the European market.
The European Commission states that PPWR introduces requirements intended to make packaging recyclable, with more detailed design-for-recycling requirements developing towards 2030.
For exporters, this makes material selection increasingly important.
Complex packaging that combines multiple difficult-to-separate materials may create a different recycling challenge compared with packaging designed around simpler material structures.
Eltete’s approach has long focused on fiber-based transport packaging and the principle of:
Reduce. Replace. Recycle.
This philosophy closely reflects the direction of PPWR towards material efficiency, recyclability and packaging-waste reduction.
2. Reducing Unnecessary Packaging
PPWR is not concerned only with what packaging is made from.
It also addresses how much packaging is used.
The regulation promotes the reduction of unnecessary packaging and improved material efficiency.
For industrial exporters, this creates an important question:
Are you using more packaging than your product actually requires?
For example, a shipment may contain:
– A wooden pallet
– An oversized outer carton
– Internal blocks
– Plastic cushioning
– Corner protection
– Strapping
– Stretch film
– Additional void-filling material
Every component may have a purpose, but the complete packaging system should be reviewed to determine whether those functions can be achieved more efficiently.
Reducing packaging does not mean compromising product protection.
The objective is to provide the required performance while avoiding unnecessary material.
3. Packaging Weight
Weight is another important part of transport-packaging efficiency.
A packaging system must be strong enough to protect the product, but excessive packaging weight also becomes part of every shipment.
Replacing unnecessarily heavy components with engineered lightweight alternatives can therefore provide benefits beyond the packaging material itself.
Eltete Group has demonstrated this principle in air cargo through its AirCargoRunner solution.
AirCargoRunners are carton-based load components designed to reduce cargo weight and improve load efficiency. In an example involving Finnair, Eltete TPM reported that a 100 kg reduction in operational weight for one unit on a typical long-haul scenario could correspond to an estimated 0.6 tonnes of CO₂ reduction per flight, depending on route-specific conditions.
This example demonstrates a wider principle relevant to transport packaging:
Packaging optimisation can influence the efficiency of the entire logistics operation.
The exact savings will always depend on the product, packaging configuration, transport method, route and operating conditions.
4. Empty Space and Packaging Volume
Packaging efficiency also involves volume.
Large packaging with excessive empty space may require additional cushioning and consume more warehouse or transport capacity than necessary.
Eltete TPM identifies reducing packaging size, weight and unnecessary components as part of its approach to supporting the objectives behind PPWR.
Eltete Malaysia applies a similar approach through its Transport Packaging Solutions concept.
By reducing packaging material, businesses may require less warehouse space and potentially load more products within the available transport volume.
This can involve evaluating:
– Product dimensions
– Pallet dimensions
– Carton dimensions
– Empty space
– Load configuration
– Protective components
– Warehouse storage
– Container utilisation
The objective is to design the packaging around the actual logistics requirement.
What Does PPWR Mean for Transport Packaging?
Transport packaging can include many different components, including:
– Pallets
– Slip Sheets
– Export boxes
– Edge protectors
– Divider sheets
– Protective profiles
– Internal supports
– Load-securing components
Eltete TPM specifically identifies pallets, export boxes, Slip Sheets, divider sheets, Edgeboards and protective structures among transport-packaging components affected by the changing EU packaging framework.
For Malaysian exporters, this means PPWR should not be viewed only as a regulation affecting consumer packaging such as bottles, cans or retail cartons.
The transport packaging surrounding the product also needs consideration.
How Eltete Malaysia’s Paper-Based Transport Packaging Can Support PPWR Readiness
Eltete Malaysia provides paper-based Transport Packaging Solutions for manufacturers, exporters and logistics operations.
The company’s main solutions include products such as:
– Edgeboard
– Slip Sheets
– Paper Pallets
– PallRun®
– EdgeRunner®
– Honeycomb Board
– Protective profiles
– Wrap Around Edgeboard
– Packaging solutions for different transport requirements
Eltete Malaysia states that its environmental strategy is based on Reduce, Replace and Recycle, with its strategies geared towards recyclability of products and process waste.
These principles can support businesses reviewing their packaging in response to PPWR.
Reduce
Reducing packaging means examining whether a product can be transported safely using less material, lower weight or lower packaging volume.
This may involve:
– Optimising packaging dimensions
– Removing unnecessary components
– Reducing empty space
– Using targeted protection
– Using lightweight load carriers
– Improving pallet or container utilisation
– Replace
Some traditional transport-packaging components may be suitable for replacement with recyclable paper-based alternatives.
Depending on the product and logistics system, this may include replacing selected conventional load carriers or protective components with:
– Slip Sheets
– Paper Pallets
– PallRun®
– EdgeRunner®
– Honeycomb Board
– Edgeboard
– Other fibre-based protective components
The correct replacement should always be selected according to the actual load, handling and transport conditions.
– Recycle
Recycling becomes easier when packaging is designed with end-of-life handling in mind.
Eltete’s transport-packaging strategy places recyclability at the centre of the system rather than treating disposal as an afterthought.
Slip Sheets: Reducing Material and Volume
For suitable logistics systems, Slip Sheets provide one example of material-efficient transport packaging.
An Eltete Slip Sheet is manufactured from multiple plies of strong kraftliner and provides a thin palletless load-handling platform.
Unlike a conventional raised pallet, the Slip Sheet occupies very little physical space.
This can make Slip Sheets worth evaluating when the objective is to:
– Reduce packaging material
– Reduce packaging volume
– Improve warehouse-space utilisation
– Optimise container space
– Reduce the amount of load-carrier material shipped with each product load
Compatible push-pull handling equipment is normally required, so suitability should be evaluated throughout the complete supply chain.
Paper Pallets: A Fibre-Based Load-Carrying Alternative
Where a raised pallet structure is still required, Paper Pallets provide another option.
Eltete Paper Pallets are constructed around paper-based components and can combine PallRun® pallet feet with suitable deck materials such as corrugated board or Honeycomb Board.
The correct Paper Pallet should be selected according to factors such as:
– Product weight
– Load distribution
– Static load
– Dynamic load
– Racking requirements
– Forklift handling
– Storage conditions
– Transport method
– Destination requirements
PPWR does not mean that every exporter should automatically replace every existing pallet.
Instead, businesses should evaluate whether their existing packaging remains the most appropriate solution under changing material-efficiency and recyclability expectations.
Edgeboard: Protection Where It Is Needed
Reducing packaging material must never result in insufficient product protection.
One way to optimise packaging is to strengthen vulnerable areas rather than adding material everywhere.
Eltete Edgeboard is designed to provide edge protection, load stability and stacking support. It can be combined with stretch film, wrapping or strapping according to the packaging requirement.
This targeted approach can support material efficiency by placing additional protection where the load actually requires it.
Honeycomb Board: Lightweight Structural Protection
Eltete Honeycomb Board is another paper-based solution that can be used for product support and protection.
Depending on the design, Honeycomb Board can be converted into:
– Dividers
– Cushioning elements
– Product beds
– Void fillers
– Weight spreaders
– Corner protection
– Internal structures
– Heavy-duty packaging components
Eltete Malaysia also produces die-cut Honeycomb Board components that allow the material to be shaped according to the product and packaging application.
This makes it possible to use protective material strategically instead of simply filling the entire package.
Packaging Should Be Evaluated as a Complete System
PPWR makes it increasingly important to consider the complete packaging system, not only individual components.
A Malaysian exporter may use several materials simultaneously:
Product → Inner protection → Box → Pallet → Edge protection → Strapping → Stretch film → Container
Changing only one component may not create the best result.
Eltete Malaysia’s Transport Packaging Solutions (TPS) concept approaches packaging as a complete system.
Products such as Edgeboard, Slip Sheets, Paper Pallets and other protective elements can be combined according to the complete product, handling and transport requirements.
This allows businesses to evaluate:
Protection + Material + Weight + Volume + Handling + Transport + Recyclability
rather than selecting packaging components independently.
A Real-World Lesson from Eltete Group and Finnair
Eltete Group’s AirCargoRunner implementation with Finnair provides a useful example of how packaging engineering can influence more than product protection.
The solution was developed around reducing operational cargo weight and improving load utilisation.
Eltete TPM reports benefits related to:
– Lower cargo weight
– Reduced fuel use
– Reduced CO₂ emissions
– Improved cargo utilisation
– Measurable sustainability reporting
AirCargoRunners are also described by Eltete TPM as being designed to support evolving regulatory and reporting requirements, including PPWR-related requirements.
The important lesson for other industries is not that every company requires the same solution.
It is that transport packaging should be evaluated as part of logistics performance.
A relatively small packaging change can affect material consumption, shipment weight, storage space and transport efficiency across repeated shipments.
What Should Malaysian Exporters Do Now?
As PPWR begins applying across the EU, companies exporting from Malaysia should start reviewing their packaging systematically rather than waiting for a European customer to request changes.
A practical review can begin with the following questions:
1. What materials are we currently using?
Create an inventory of the materials used throughout the complete packaging system.
2. Is the packaging recyclable?
Understand how each packaging component will be handled after reaching its destination.
3. Are we using unnecessary packaging?
Look for duplicated functions, oversized packaging, excessive cushioning and unnecessary empty space.
4. Can weight be reduced?
Evaluate whether existing heavy components can be replaced or redesigned without compromising performance.
5. Can packaging volume be reduced?
Consider storage space, pallet height, container utilisation and the volume occupied by empty packaging before use.
6. Can we simplify the material structure?
Packaging that is easier to identify and separate may also be easier to handle at end of life.
7. Is the packaging suitable for the complete supply chain?
A packaging change must work not only at the factory but also during:
– Warehousing
– Forklift handling
– Container loading
– Transportation
– Customer unloading
– Recycling or disposal
8. Can the packaging supplier provide technical guidance?
Packaging requirements are becoming increasingly connected with sustainability, documentation and logistics efficiency.
Working with a supplier that understands both packaging performance and material optimisation can make the transition easier.
Does Using Paper-Based Packaging Automatically Guarantee PPWR Compliance?
No.
PPWR compliance depends on the specific packaging, its intended use, applicable requirements, material composition, documentation and the role of the economic operators involved.
Simply changing one packaging component from another material to paper should not automatically be treated as proof of complete PPWR compliance.
However, packaging designed around principles such as:
– Recyclability
– Material efficiency
– Reduced unnecessary packaging
– Lower packaging volume
– Simpler material structures
can place businesses in a stronger position when reviewing packaging against the direction of PPWR.
Eltete TPM states that its fibre-based transport packaging approach is developed around these principles and continues to adapt to changing regulatory requirements.
PPWR and the Future of Export Packaging
PPWR represents more than a new compliance requirement.
It signals a wider shift in how businesses should think about packaging.
Previously, the main question may have been:
“Will this packaging protect the product?”
That remains essential.
But companies increasingly need to ask additional questions:
Q – Can it protect the product with less material?
Q – Can the packaging be recycled?
Q – Can we reduce packaging weight?
Q – Can we reduce empty space?
Q – Can we simplify the packaging system?
Q – Can we improve logistics efficiency at the same time?
For Malaysian businesses exporting to Europe, addressing these questions early can help prepare the supply chain for changing customer and regulatory expectations.
Eltete Malaysia: Reduce, Replace, Recycle
Eltete Malaysia’s approach to sustainable transport packaging is built around three principles:
– Reduce
Reduce unnecessary packaging material, weight and volume while maintaining product protection.
– Replace
Evaluate whether suitable conventional packaging components can be replaced with recyclable paper-based transport packaging.
– Recycle
Design packaging with recyclability and end-of-life handling in mind.
This philosophy has been part of the broader Eltete Group’s sustainability approach for decades and closely matches the direction in which European packaging regulation is moving.
Frequently Asked Questions About PPWR
Q – What does PPWR stand for?
A – PPWR stands for Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. The current EU legislation is Regulation (EU) 2025/40.
Q – When does PPWR apply?
A – The regulation entered into force on 11 February 2025 and applies generally from 12 August 2026, although individual obligations and implementing measures have different timelines.
Q – Does PPWR affect Malaysian companies?
A – Malaysian companies that export packaged goods to the EU should understand PPWR because packaging associated with products placed on the EU market falls within the European packaging framework. The exact responsibilities depend on the supply-chain structure and the economic operators involved.
Q – Does PPWR include transport packaging?
A – Yes. The regulation covers packaging broadly, and Eltete TPM identifies transport-packaging formats such as pallets, export boxes, Slip Sheets, divider sheets and Edgeboards among the packaging systems that need to be considered.
Q – Does PPWR require recyclable packaging?
A – Recyclability is a central requirement of PPWR. The regulation introduces recyclability requirements with further design-for-recycling and recycled-at-scale criteria being phased in over the coming years.
Q – Are Eltete Malaysia products recyclable?
A – Eltete Malaysia states that its strategy is focused on supplying 100% recyclable transport packaging products and follows the company’s Reduce, Replace and Recycle philosophy.
Q – Can Eltete Malaysia help companies prepare their packaging for PPWR?
A – Eltete Malaysia can evaluate paper-based transport packaging options according to product, load, handling, storage and transport requirements. Regulatory compliance should always be assessed against the specific packaging configuration and the applicable PPWR obligations.
Prepare Your Transport Packaging for the Changing EU Market
For Malaysian exporters, the introduction of PPWR makes one thing clear:
Packaging can no longer be evaluated only by whether it gets the product from Point A to Point B.
Future-ready transport packaging also needs to consider material efficiency, recyclability, packaging volume and overall logistics performance.
Eltete Malaysia provides recyclable paper-based Transport Packaging Solutions including Slip Sheets, Paper Pallets, Edgeboard, Honeycomb Board, PallRun®, EdgeRunner® and customised protective packaging components.
Through the Reduce, Replace and Recycle approach, these solutions can help businesses review and optimise their transport packaging as European packaging requirements continue to develop.
Exporting your products from Malaysia to the EU?
Contact Eltete Malaysia to review your current transport packaging and explore recyclable paper-based solutions based on your product, load and logistics requirements.
